Global Patent Index - EP 2136388 A2

EP 2136388 A2 20091223 - Deposition of Materials

Title (en)

Deposition of Materials

Title (de)

Ablage von Materialien

Title (fr)

Dépôt de matériaux

Publication

EP 2136388 A2 20091223 (EN)

Application

EP 09008048 A 20090619

Priority

GB 0811382 A 20080620

Abstract (en)

Sputter deposition can move towards a more commercial scale, by adopting a geometry that is more susceptible to larger scale operation and also by encouraging the production of the necessary charged nanoparticles. The former is assisted by a magnetron comprising a cylindrical target having at least an outer face of the material to be deposited and a hollow interior, and a source of magnetic flux within the hollow interior arranged to present magnetic poles in a direction that is radially outward with respect to the cylindrical target. The source of magnetic flux preferably presents alternating north and south magnetic poles in circumferential bands around the target. The latter is enabled by providing a plasma or electron cloud in the flight path at a later stage where atoms are more likely to have coalesced into nanoparticles. Magnets are able to extend the physical extent of the sputter plasma, allowing electron capture by the nanoparticles that have been generated by the plasma. Accordingly, an apparatus for the production of nanoparticles is disclosed comprising a magnetron within a chamber containing a gas at low pressure, a means for creating a flow of the gas away from the magnetron, and at least one source of magnetic flux located downstream from the magnetron.

IPC 8 full level

H01J 37/34 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP GB)

C23C 14/35 (2013.01 - GB); H01J 37/3405 (2013.01 - EP GB); H01J 37/3452 (2013.01 - EP GB); H01J 37/3458 (2013.01 - EP GB)

Citation (applicant)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 2136388 A2 20091223; EP 2136388 A3 20110330; GB 0811382 D0 20080730; GB 2461094 A 20091223; GB 2461094 B 20120822

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 09008048 A 20090619; GB 0811382 A 20080620